Peyton Manning saved the day and gave the Denver Broncos home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The veteran quarterback returned to action Sunday, replacing Brock Osweiler in the third quarter of the Broncos’ regular-season finale against the San Diego Chargers, trailing by six points. Manning immediately rallied the troops, helping the Broncos to a 27-20 comeback win that clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
The New England Patriots had a chance to lock up the AFC’s top seed but fell to the Dolphins 20-10 in Miami. The Patriots dropped to the No. 2 seed as a result and will play either the Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs or Houston Texans in their first playoff game in two weeks.
The Patriots cannot play the Pittsburgh Steelers, who locked up the No. 6 seed in the playoffs Sunday, until the AFC Championship Game. New England defeated Pittsburgh 28-21 in the NFL season opener.
Thumbnail photo via Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images
